Mondo Jazz

Putting together an episode of Mondo Jazz feels like an experiment, requiring research and analysis leading to a synthesis of the most interesting specimens from the current world jazz flora. Here some of the most significant discoveries of the last week. The playlist features Todd Clouser; Shake Stew; Mike Reed; Hiromi pictured]; Kevin Sun; Weave4, Francesco Bigoni, Benoît Delbecq, Francesco Diodati, Steve Argüelles; Astghik Martirosyan; Jeremy Udden; Sunny Kim, Vardan Ovsepian, Ben Monder Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/18087063/Mondo-Jazz (up to "The Totality of Silence"). Happy listening!

Artistically ambitious, a rare woman in a male dominated scene, taking the road less travelled, or even the road never travelled, and with her feet well on the ground business-wise side to ensure her artistic independence, Carla Bley played a key role in giving today's music scene the shape we know. This week we concentrate on some of her signature compositions, focusing on her Church side, her Big Band side, her catchy side, her electric side, and some of the musicians that embraced her work early on. The playlist features Conjure, Kip Hanrahan; Orrin Evans; Howard Tate; Masabumi Kikuchi, Gil Evans; Espoo Big Band; George Russell; Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, Steve Swallow; Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Paul Bley, Bruce Ditmas; and John McLaughlin. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/18060273/Mondo-Jazz [from "The Wardrobe Master of Paradise" onwards]

We could spend hours talking about the many things that made Carla Bley unique, and made her passing a huge loss for the world of jazz. This week we decided to focus on her songbook, as interpreted by many of the peers that admired her work. The playlist features Gary Burton; Henri Texier; Marcin Wasilewski; Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison, Ted Nash; Antonio Zambrini, Jesper Bodilsen, Martin Maretti Andersen; Jean-Charles Capon, Richard Galliano, Gilles Perrin; NRBQ; Nick Mason; Donkey Monkey (feat. Eve Risser, Yuko Oshima); and Nancy Zeltsman. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/18060273/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Over There"] Photo credit: Guy Le Querrec

Swedish saxophonists Per "Texas" Johansson and Marius Neset both have two new albums out; Swedish bassist Petter Eldh is on--at least--three new albums, including some by Johansson and Neset. This and much more on a playlist largely focusing on music from the Berlin and Scandinavian scenes. The playlist features Lucia Cadotsch; Enemy (Kit Downes, Petter Eldh, James Maddren); Per "Texas" Johansson [pictured]; Johan Lindström, Norbotten Big Band; Marius Neset, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, London Sinfonietta; Suzanne, Emile Parisien; and Aruan Ortiz. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/18027811/Mondo-Jazz (from "No Apology" onwards). Happy listening!

We look at the music we love not only as source of sonic delight, but also as a metaphor of how societies could work, in harmony and respect regardless of place of origin and without boundaries, to create something higher than themselves. So this week we focus on music that may provide either hope or relief at a time when another war has erupted. The playlist features Timmy Thomas; Gilad Atzmon; Michael Moore, Jewels and Binoculars; Gerald Clayton; Charles Lloyd; Will Holshouser, Bernardo Sassetti; Horace Silver; Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny; John McLaughlin. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/18027811/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Gaza City").

A mysterious new producer, Church Chords; the unearthing of a gem; jazz divinations; blood diamonds and bloody belly comb jellies... here for you a playlist that reads like a thriller story, and is as gripping as one. The playlist features Billy Valentine; Church Chords; Geri Allen, Kurt Rosenwinkel; Andrew Krasilnikov; Arch (Luca Sguera, Giovanni Iacovella, Joe Rehmer); Tina Raymond; Jim Campilongo, Steve Cardenas; Walt Weiskopf. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17994717/Mondo-Jazz [from ""We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue" onwards]. Happy listening!

Welcome back for yet another edition of Mondo Jazz bursting at the seams with gorgeous new and upcoming albums and music about the lockdown, incarceration, reincarnation, multi-tasking, astral projections, and how beautiful it is to play with musicians of different cultural backgrounds. The playlist features Xavi Torres; Federica Michisanti; Aaron Diehl [pictured]; Tyshawn Sorey; Joel Goodman; Caroline Davis; Andreas Schaerer, Kalle Kalima, Tim Lefebvre; Volker Goetze, Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko, Alejandro Moreno. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17994717/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Dougou"]. Happy listening!

A cosmopolitan edition of Mondo Jazz, which brings India, Cape Verde, Canada, Haiti, England, Sicily, Sardinia, the Great American Rivers, California and Germany to your headphones, wherever you might be, through Radio Free Brooklyn's digital transmitter in Bushwick! Jazz without borders! The playlist features Kavita Shah; Dominique Fils-Aimé; Alabaster Deplume; Cettina Donato, Zoe Pia; Allison Miller; Todd Sickafoose; Billy Mohler; Angelika Niescier, Tomeka Reid, Savannah Harris. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17937324/Mondo-Jazz [from "Cape Verdean Blues" onwards] Happy listening!

Large ensembles, big bands, orchestras... A playlist replete of successful experiments in the art of more is more... The playlist features Chuck Owen, WDR Big Band; Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra; Miho Hazama; Steve Lehman, Orchestre National de Jazz; Darcy James Argue's Secret Society; Pascal Le Boeuf; Andrew Krasilnikov. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17937324/Mondo-Jazz [up to "How Many Roads"] Happy listening!

James Brandon Lewis' homage to Mahalia Jackson, the ongoing Eastern and microtonal adventures of Lucian Ban, Mat Maneri, Fabio Delvò's fellowship and an exciting posse of emerging artists in their twenties make this hour of Mondo Jazz a treasure trove of sonic delights. The playlist also features Léon Phal; Logan Kane; Emma Rawicz; Shuteen Erdenebaatar [pictured]; Location Location Location feat. Michael Formanek, Anthony Pirog, Mike Pride; and Wasted Generation. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17904177/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Flow"]. Happy listening! Photo credit: Ralf Dombrowski

A playlist to travel the spaceways of Sun Ra and Bernie Worrell, but also those of Ronald Shannon Jackson and Joe Zawinul, experience the Afro Futuristic Dreams of Idris Ackamoor, the grooves of the Adam Dietch Quartet feat. John Scofield and the river streams that have inspired Helen Svoboda and Slowly Rolling Camera. The playlist also features David Helbock; Cindy Blackman Santana, John King; Orquestra Afrosinfônica, Jazzmeia Horn; Kris Davis; John O’Connor, Tim Green; Verneri Pohjola and Josh Arcoleo. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17904177/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Flow"]. Happy listening!

A playlist featuring some delicious new and upcoming releases... but this week we also want to celebrate one of the musicians we admired and respected, an artist you would always find in bands and projects that mattered and a rare gentleman with a great sense of humor, trombonist Curtis Fowlkes who passed away a few days ago at the age of 72. The playlist features The Guests, Lucy Woodward, Henry Hey; Richard Baratta; Marike Van Dijk; Aline Homzy; Precarious Towers; JoVia Armstrong; and Tomasz Dąbrowski. Detailed playlist at [from "Who Is She (And What Is She to You)?" onwards]. Happy listening!

A series of recent re-releases gives us the opportunity to focus on the phenomenal 1970s music of two iconic musicians like Betty Davis and Charles Mingus. Music so ahead of its time that it sounds as if it has just been recorded today. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17842983/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Mademoiselle Mabry"]. Happy listening!

Too often we focus our attention on instrumental jazz… in this hour we will try to remedy that with special attention to jazz singers who excel at surprising and challenging expectations. The playlist features Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter; Veronica Swift; Maria Pia de Vito; Kornél Fekete-Kovács, Veronika Harcsa, Robert Balzar Trio; Gabriela Martina; Elina Duni [pictured]; Camille Bertault, Paul Bertault; Christina Galisatus. Erin Bentlage, Joshua Crumbly; Gretchen Parlato, Lionel Loueke; Rita Reys, Oliver Nelson; Marc Jordan; Nite Bjuti. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17812561/Mondo-Jazz [from "Freeman Square" onwards]. Happy listening!

Seven days have flown by, and seven days were barely enough to go through another big pile of wonderful new and upcoming albums which we are featuring this week focusing on some captivating and forward looking projects, and several new albums that bring together jazz and the musical traditions of Cuba and Puerto Rico. The playlist features Adrian Younge, Tony Allen; Azmari; Johnathan Blake; Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade; Elio Villafranca [pictured]; Miguel Zenón, Luis Perdomo; Sammy Figueroa; and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17812561/Mondo-Jazz [up to "In a Sentimental Mood"]. Happy listening!

The transatlantic partnership between Céline Bonacina, John Hadfield and Rachel Eckroth [pictured] opens an edition of Mondo Jazz which also focuses on drummer-driven projects and piano trios. The playlist features also Csaba Palotaï, Simon Drappier, Steve Argüelles; Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra; Gauthier Toux; Luciana Souza & Trio Corrente; Orbit (Stephan Oliva, Sébastien Boisseau, Tom Rainey). Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17784582/Mondo-Jazz (from "Tunnel" onwards) Happy listening!

The Fender Rhodes is back (actually, it never left)! And so is Peter Epstein almost a decade after his acclaimed album "Polarities", and with a new sextet! The playlist features also Laurent Cugny; Aki Rissanen; Matthew Halsall; Guillermo Klein; Peter Epstein; Lauren Henderson; Jeremy Dutton; Alex LoRe; and Artemis Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17784582/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Timber") Happy listening!

Unexpected returns, B-sides that sound as good as the A-sides, tributes to rock and folk heroes, Impulse! signing another key band of today's scene, Colorfield Records establishing itself even more as the label to follow... this and more on this week's edition of Mondo Jazz! Greg Joseph; Daniel Villareal; Anthony Wilson; Irreversible Entanglements; Darcy James Argue; Joni Mitchell; Vicente Archer, Gerald Clayton, Bill Stewart; Kris Allen. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17756229/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Blood Count"). Photo Credit: Nina Westervelt. Happy listening!

This week we focus on the reissue of a seminal project bridging acid jazz and trip-hop, the soundtrack to a film without pictures, a trip east bound and down fusion lane, a great crop of guitarists deserving wider recognition, and saxophonists of well-deserved recognition. The playlist features Marden Hill; Funkwrench Blues; Kait Dunton; Herb Alpert; B.D. Lenz; Andrew Gorny; David Preston; Max Light; Emiliano D'Auria; Benjamin Koppel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade; annd Chris Potter [pictured]. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17756229/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Blood Count"). Photo credit: Dave Stapleton. Happy listening!

A revelation of an album, "Sky" by Will Bernard, Beth Custer open a playlist which explores three piano jazz formats, solo, duo and trio, through a number of impressive recent releases. The playlist also features Yosef Gutman Levitt, Lionel Loueke; Jeff Babko, David Piltch; Benny Green; Simona Premazzi [pictured]; Satoko Fujii; Tania Giannouli; Leo Genovese, Demian Cabaud and Marcos Cavaleiro. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17698766/Mondo-Jazz (from "Fence" onwards) Happy listening! Photo credit: Jan Cain

This week take a look back at decades of productive and progressive relationship between jazz and hip-hop, with a focus on international projects and collaborations between jazz and hip-hop artists. Our way to celebrate half a century of hip-hop. The playlist features Dream Warriors; Us3; Meshell Ndegeocello [pictured]; Buckshot LeFonque; Steve Williamson; Q Tip, Kenny Garrett; Madlib; Jon Hassell; Russell Gunn; Courtney Pine; Guru, MC Solaar; Daniele Sepe; Thiefs, Mike Ladd; Jazz Liberatorz Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17727979/Mondo-Jazz (from "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" onwards). Happy listening!

Somehow a birthday has been identified for Hip-Hop, 11 August 1973, so in a couple of days you'll run into tons of initiatives marking the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Hip-Hop. Should you catch yourself wondering, as a jazz fan, about how jazz and hip hop influenced each other… you may find a few clues with us here today... And since you're in a celebratory mood, maybe you may also celebrate the airing 250th episode of Mondo Jazz. The playlist features Gang Starr; Pigmeat Markham; Langston Hughes, Charles Mingus; Gil Scott-Heron; Frankie Crocker; Herbie Hancock, Rob Swift; Aesop Quartet; Steve Coleman [pictured], the Mystic Rhythm Society, AfroCuba De Matanzas; Greg Osby; Cassandra Wilson; Gary Thomas; Steve Lehman; Vijay Iyer and Mike Ladd Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17727979/Mondo-Jazz (up to "The Color of My Circumference I") Happy listening! Photo credit: Dimicology.

Lucy Woodward returns with a powerful single paving the way for a full-length album not to be missed, and for a playlist under the sign of electro-acoustic creativity, Brazilian influences and fearless imagination. The playlist also features Collettivo Immaginario, Tommaso Cappellato, Alberto Lincetto, Nicolò Masetto; Jason Moran, Marcus Gilmore BlankFor.ms; Cautious Clay, Ambrose Akinmusire, Immanuel Wilkins; Nils Kugelmann; ThoughtCast; Ryan Keberle; Marcello Gonçalves, Anat Cohen; Doug Richards Orchestra; and David Liebman. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17698766/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Beginning") Happy listening! Photo credit: Nina Duncan

The much awaited return of Tood Sickafoose graces our playlist together with other gem ranging from the gorgeous to the adventurous, with a couple of surprising contributions from musicians whose relationship with jazz has been notoriously... ambivalent, Frank Zappa and Stewart Copeland. The playlist also features Samuel Blaser; Todd Sickafoose [pictured]; Amaury Faye; Rudy Royston; Alexander Hawkins; Mick Rossi, Peter Hess, Matt Moran; John Zorn. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17670100/Mondo-Jazz (starting from ""Lady Rawlinson"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Shervin Lainez

This week we start with a remembrance of Tony Bennett and Jane Birkin, two artists who had a number of common traits that went well beyond their musicality, from their progressive activism to their multi-disciplinary talents. After that we revert to our weekly exploration of new and upcoming releases, with a special attention to trios and piano-saxophone duos. The playlist features also Alan Ferber; Naya Bazz; Roberto Negro, Emile Parisien; Nora Stanley, Benny Bock; Pierrick Pedron, Gonzalo Rubalcaba; Francesco Chiapperini; Peter Bruun and Chris Speed. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17670100/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Amos"). Happy listening!

This week's playlist features two recent albums by, and featuring, Donny McCaslin , the new album by German baritonist Kara Linn plus a score of forward looking bass players and leaders, from Meshell Ndegeocello to Linda May Han Oh, Ben Wolfe and Philly natives Christian McBride and Alexander Claffy. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17641622/Mondo-Jazz [from "Clear Water" onwards] Happy listening! Photo Credit: Dave Stapleton

After a couple of weeks focusing on some of our favorite tunes from the first half of the year here we are back on our night road to some of the most exciting new and upcoming releases, many of them with a cinematic and nocturnal vibe. The playlist features Erik Truffaz; Hernan Cassibba; The Vampires feat. Chris Abrahams; Rob Mazurek; London Brew; Yussef Dayes, Shabaka Hutchings; Matthieu Donarier, Eve Risser, Karsten Hochapfel, Toma Gouband; Eleonora Strino [pictured], Greg Cohen, Joey Baron; Christina Galisatus; and Jeff Coffin. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17641622/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Luminosity"]. Happy listening!

Africana to Americana and beyond in the final installment of our retrospective of some of the most memorable tunes we got to hear during the first half of the year. The playlist features Bill Laurance, Michael League; Artemis; Ben van Gelder; Ballaké Sissoko [pictured], Vincent Segal, Vincent Peirani, Emile Parisien; Gangbé Brass Band, Kala Jula, Fama Diabaté; Magic Malik; Ethnic Heritage Ensemble; and Stephen Ulrich. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17612249/Mondo-Jazz (from "Round House" onward). Happy listening!

Last week we focused our playlist on some of our favorite tracks from the first six months of the year. Evidently two hours were not enough and we could not play them all… so here we are going through the rest of the best. The playlist features Vicente Archer; Enzo Carniel, Hermon Mehari, Damien Varaillon, Stéphane Adsuar; John Hadfield [pictured], Kinan Azmeh; Vinnie Sperrazza, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek; Rachel Eckroth; Darren Johnston; Ralph Alessi; Jacob Young, Mats Eilertsen, Audun Kleive; and Asher Gamedze. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17612249/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Out Stepped Zim"). Happy listening!

A retrospective of some of the most compelling tunes we heard in the first half of 2023, distilled for your enjoyment. The playlist features Michael Blake; Thomas Naïm; Greg Ward; Lucia Cadotsch; Alessia Obino; David Preston; Ella Zirina; Kaisa's Machine; The Peggy Lee Band. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17583788/Mondo-Jazz (from "Little Demons" onwards). Happy listening! Photo credit: Dasha Dare

The first half of the year has brought us plenty of great new albums. Let's look back at some of the tunes and compositions which have left a mark during these six months. The playlist features Billy Valentine; Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar, Abe Rounds; Greg Joseph; Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, Lauren Henderson [pictured]; Anat Fort; Gaia Wilmer; Magos Herrera; David Virelles; Sam Bardfeld. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17583788/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Refuge"). Happy listening!

Ambition does not have to be an expression of self-centeredness. It may be, and should be, the pursuit of high achievements, and the realization of broad and innovative visions. This playlist is bursting at the seams with music driven by the good kind of ambition... The playlist features Yilian Cañizares; David Virelles; Ken Stubbs; Darren Johnston; John Hadfield; Camille-Alban Spreng, Benjamin Sauzereau, Marco Giongrandi; The Peggy Lee Band; Wynton Marsalis [pictured]; Johan Lindström & Norrbotten Big Band. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17588145/Mondo-Jazz from ("Oxun" onwards). Happy listening!

This week we focus on a bunch of projects that put in a blender lots of seemingly disparate elements and come up with their own signature sounds, from the edgy to the smooth. The playlist features Kaisa's Machine; Jacob Young; Kosmos; Sketchbook Quartet; Erik Friedlander's Sentinel; Mowgli; Debora Petrina; Echoes of Zoo; Christine Tobin; and Louis Stewart. Detailed playlist at (up to "Invitation"). Happy listening!

This week we looking into both the jazz side of Prince, including the unexpressed potentials of his collaboration with Miles Davis, as well as covers of his music by notable jazz players from Nina Simone to Joshua Redman. The playlist features Nina Simone; Malcolm Braff; Madhouse; Miles Davis; Marcin Wasilewski; Joshua Redman; Julia Hülsmann; Heinz Sauer, Michael Wollny Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17470974/Mondo-Jazz (from "Sign 'O' the Times" onwards). Happy listening!

Prince who would have turned 65 this year. He may have left us over 7 years ago, but the influence of his music continues unequalled, including on the world of jazz, with which he's often flirted. Here a selection of some of the most interesting examples of "purple jazz", including some extended jamming by Prince himself. The playlist features Helen Sung; The Volunteered Slaves; T.J. Kirk; Santi Debriano; Steven Bernstein and the Millennial Territory Orchestra; David Helbock; Joachim Kühn; Jacob Young; Eric Vloeimans, Will Holshouser; Prince. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17470974/Mondo-Jazz (up to "West"). Happy listening!

A remembrance of Karl Berger, the stunning new album by Magos Herrera [pictured], and a whole bunch of projects you can find along the Johannesburg-New York-Chicago expressway. The playlist features also Sam Butler; Kirk Knuffke, Jay Anderson, Matt Wilson; Gretchen Parlato, Lionel Loueke; Magos Herrera; Ken Stubbs; Asher Gamedze; Good Intentions; Scree; Malcolm Jiyane Tree-o & Grandmaster CAP. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17442424/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Surrender Is Easier Said Than Done"). Happy listening!

A tribute to Tina Turner opens a show featuring music characterized by a deliberate desire to blur the lines between jazz and other genres, be it pop, R&B, world music or church music, and to do so with the most wonderful arrangements. The playlist features Herbie Hancock; Don Braden; Selma Savolainen; Le Cri du Caire, Abdullah Miniawy, Erik Truffaz, Peter Corser; Ben Van Gelder; Matt Ulery; and Rajna Swaminathan. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17442424/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Surrender Is Easier Said Than Done"). Happy listening!

From projects inspired by African traditions to jazz spiked with hard-rock, passing through some fascinating chamber influences, this week's playlist showcases the creativity, breadth and depth of today's international jazz scene. The playlist features Kala Jula & Gangbé Brass Band [pictured]; Peter Somuah, Stevo Atambire; Samuele Strufaldi; Ze in the Clouds, Paolo Fresu, Uri Caine; Rudy Royston; Sam Bardfeld; Vincent Peirani; Francesco Bearzatti; Brass Against; Ingrid Laubrock; Brandon Seabrook. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17327362/Mondo-Jazz (from "Asro" onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Suzy Mazzanisi

This week we focus on two of the most vibrant scenes in Northern Europe, Amsterdam and Berlin. Along the way we hop from Copenhagen to New York with a few more stops on the way. Enjoy some of the freshest jazz projects out there. The playlist features Lucia Cadotsch, Kurt Rosenwinkel; Petter Eldh, Sun-Mi Hong; Deadeye; Michele Sannelli; Mariasole De Pascali [pictured]; Lukas Traxel; Tilo Weber; Girls in Airports; Carlo Mombelli; Ralph Towner; and Ben Wolfe. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17327362/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Hats Off to Rebay") Happy listening!

Around the world in a playlist, which features Latin and Caribbean influeces, touches of Indian music, spiritual jazz, Brazilian aromas, microtonal atmospheres, and visceral electro-acoustic outbursts. The playlist features Kevin Fingier; Samuel Blaser [pictured]; João Selva; Michael Blake; Clément Janinet; Aka Moon, The Orchestral Constellation; La Marmite Infernale. Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/m/playlist/view/16955232 (up to "Viscères électriques"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Alex Troesch

A special focus on the deep, eclectic and exciting LA scene in this hour of Mondo Jazz, which then concludes with an unearthed gem by Chet Baker from the late 70s. The playlist features Mark Guiliana [pictured]; Jeff Babko, Tim Lefebvre; Rachel Eckroth; Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar, Abe Rounds; Dorian Holley, Nayanna Holley; Billy Valentine; and Chet Baker. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17298446/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Guinea"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Dave Stapleton

This week we focus on three fascinating releases which celebrate the genius and legacy of Don Cherry, after starting with a tribute to Led Zeppelin, Emma Rawicz's new project, one of the best piano trios I've heard in a long time, lead by a drummer, and new music by Michael Formanek. The playlist features Francesco Bearzatti; Emma Rawicz; Vinnie Sperrazza, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek; Peter Broetzmann, Majid Bekkas, Hamid Drake [pictured]; Kahil El'Zabar, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Dwight Trible, David Ornette Cherry; Jamie Breiwick; and Ken Vandermark. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17298446/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Guinea"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Luciano Rossetti.

Welcome to an edition of Mondo Jazz under the sign of groove and high energy feelgood releases. The playlist featured Jakob Manz; Leon Lee Dorsey; Izo FitzRoy; Joel Harrison; Wayne Tucker; Robin Mansanti; Miku Yonezawa [pictured]; The Jazz Avengers; Diego Rivera; Filthy Six; Genevieve Artadi; Yumi Ito; Sarah Elizabeth Charles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17269003/Mondo-Jazz (from "Soul Tiger" onward). Happy listening!

Here is our weekly merry-go-round of recent and upcoming albums, which this time will feature great saxophonists, up and coming composers, and various projects showing that jazz is the most inclusive genre out there, welcoming any source of inspiration from Baroque to Brazilian to Flamenco. The playlist features Walter Smith III; Riccardo Gola; Felipe Salles, Melissa Aldana; Ben Rosenblum; Cyro Baptista [pictured]; Gianluigi Trovesi, Stefano Montanari; Jean-Marie Machado; Yvonnick Prené; Shirley Scott. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17269003/Mondo-Jazz (up to "By The Time I Get to Phoenix"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Makota Ebi

Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ben Wendel and Kurt Rosenwinkel [pictured] are the threads bridging the various parts of this week's show which, in turn, is like a bridge between Europe and the US. The playlist also features Jacques Schwarz-Bart; Kerkko Koskinen, Linda Fredriksson. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra; Angel Bat Dawid; Aki Takase; Next.Ape; Jim Snidero; and Tobias Meinhart Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17239727/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Berlin People"). Happy listening! Photo credit: David Kaufman

Strings, strings and more strings in this episode... from those of Brandee Younger's and Dorothy Ashby's harps, to those of the Ulysses String Quartet; from those of the guitars of Marc Ribot, Mariusz Sobanski and Guillaume Vierset, to those of the basses of Meshell Ndegeocello and Clovis Nicolas. The playlist features Hot Mustard, Alanna Royale; Brandee Younger; Meshell Ndegeocello, Julius Rodriguez; Dorothy Ashby; Clovis Nicolas; Ulysses String Quartet; Ikiru; Guillaume Vierset; Sobasnki Music Laboratory; John Zorn, Asmodeus. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17239727/Mondo-Jazz (from "The End of Time" onward). Happy listening!

Experiments, from Chicago and elsewhere, technical mastery offset by sense of humor, jazz as sonic story-telling, and transfiguration of jazz standards are some of the main sources of inspiration for this episode. The playlist features Greg Spero; John Zorn, Bill Frisell, John Medeski, Brian Marsella, Kenny Wollesen; Camille Bertault; Daniel Bingert; Michael Blake; Yelena Eckemoff; Francesca Han [pictured], Ralph Alessi; Cory Smythe. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17210615/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Emahoy"). Happy listening!

This week we dedicate our show to two artists who--even though very far apart in terms of geographical origins and life trajectories, shared a devotion to beauty, elegance and originality: Ryuichi Sakamoto and Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou, who recently passed away. The playlist features also Cesária Evora, Caetano Veloso; Arto Lindsay; Vinicius Cantuaria; Adam O'Farrill; Rachel Eckroth; Francesca Han; Maya Dunietz; Kansas Smitty’s; David Virelles; Sam Reider Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17210615/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Emahoy").

This week we focus on the emerging musicians that will ensure that the historic South African jazz scene will have a bright future, and on a number of recent releases showcasing the many facets of a living master of the piano, Kenny Barron, featured as an accompanist for a vocalist, as a solo artist on a rare recording date as a leader, as a composer that inspires other contemporary musicians, and as a side-man in a very bop-oriented concert which has been recently unearthed. The playlist also features Vusi Mahlasela; Thandi Ntuli; Bokani Dyer [pictured]; Linda Sikhakhane; Mthunzi Mvubu; BCUC; Claudia Acuña; Billy Childs; Sonny Stitt. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17181589/Mondo-Jazz (from "Umzala" onward). Photo credit: Raees Hassan

This week we open with a stunner, Billy Valentine's new album featuring the best of the Los Angeles and New York Scenes (Pino Palladino; Jeff Parker, Theo Crocker; Larry Goldings; Abe Rounds; Immanuel Wilkins; Linda May Ahn) and music that should bring much deserved attention. Then a mix of exciting releases, with a special focus on pianist a few moments that evoke the ghost of Nick Drake. The playlist also features Jeff Coffin; Salami Rose Joe Louis, Brijean; Dave Stryker; Loïs Le Van, Alban Darche; Bobo Stenson; Magic Malik; Anat Fort; Marie Kruttli; Margherita Fava; Jeff Parker, Matthew Stevens. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17181589/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Alberta"). Happy listening!